Pickering could close the door on doorknobs

Vancouver policy inspires local accessibility advocates

Terry Arvisais doorknobs

Ryan Pfeiffer / Metroland

PICKERING -- Terry Arvisais is a member of the Pickering Accessibility Advisory Committee, which recently passed a motion asking the City to follow in the footsteps of Vancouver council, which recently voted to ban doorknobs in all new construction and replacing them with levers. January 13, 2014.

PICKERING -- Accessibility advocates are calling on Pickering to follow Vancouver’s lead and do away with the doorknob.

Last fall, Vancouver made headlines with its decision to ban round doorknobs in all future construction projects -- including private homes -- in favour of levers.

The legislation, which takes effect in March, is intended to improve accessibility and move towards “universal design.”

It also includes swapping water faucet knobs for levers.

At its most recent meeting, the Pickering Accessibility Advisory Committee approved a motion asking the City of Pickering to look into a similar policy.

“When I heard about this, I thought how proactive of them,” said committee member Terry Arvisais, who moved the motion. “I think it’s a no-brainer, when you stop to consider that we have an aging population, this makes the most sense.”

Mr. Arvisais said levers are easier to use for people with mobility issues or arthritis, because they don’t require a tight grasp or turning motion.

City staff is investigating options, but stress Vancouver’s situation is unique because it is the only city in Canada with its own building code.

“As a municipality we can set design standards, but we have to follow the (Ontario) building code’s minimum standards,” said Dave Marlowe, the City of Pickering’s accessibility co-ordinator. “This would not necessarily be something we could enforce.”

The Ontario Building code already requires that door openers not require “tight grasping and twisting of the wrist” in all buildings except houses.

Mr. Marlowe said Vancouver’s decision to take things a step further by including homes, is seen by some as too “Big Brother.”

On the flip side, he said there are benefits to swapping doorknobs for levers in homes.

“The argument is that over the lifetime of a home, you’re most likely going to have someone who needs that kind of accommodation,” he explains.

The changes in Vancouver will be grandfathered and won’t apply to existing buildings or homes.

(1) Comment

By Glenn|JANUARY 19, 2014 12:39 PM

No truer phrase was spoken by Mr. Arvisais. It's a no-brainer alright. I am sure he had good intentions, but as is so often the case the proposal boils down to one of two things. Ban it or tax it. Yes it smacks of Big Brother when private dwellings are targeted. As for trumpetting Vancouver as being proactive, he might consider a city that was not charged with dumping raw sewage into the bay.